Imagine being part of a parents´ group with hundreds of other moms and dads, a group of parents with children of all ages and temperaments that offer their advice directly to you–in their own words–and a group that spans the United States, yet is as near as your bookshelf. That’s exactly what you’ll find in “It Worked for Me!,” the eminently useful collection of parenting secrets from the editors of Parents Magazine.

Based on the magazine’s popular column, this book connects you to a vast network of mothers and fathers who are out there every day solving parenting quandaries with flair. With 437 pages packed with creative ideas and helpful hints on everything from feeding schedules and making boo-boos better to avoiding bedtime battles and cures for “school-itis,” you’re sure to find answers to any child-care conundrum. Here’s a sampling of what you’ll find:

“At the end of each school year, the kids and I decide which 10 drawings to save. We use the rest for wrapping paper.” –Anna Weintraub, Colorado Springs, Colorado

“Whenever my daughter starts to whine, I say ´There must be a squeaky mouse here somewhere,´ and I ask her to help me find it. She usually starts laughing…” –Rita Johnson, Elmira, New York

“My daughter discovered the best place to learn to ride (a bike) on a flat grassy area near our home.” — Marilee Stodhouser, Hannibal, Missouri

All these tried-and-true ideas are organized logically by subject for easy reference when you’re in a child-rearing bind. And there’s expert advice mixed throughout, so “It Worked for Me!” can be your one-stop solution to parenting with wisdom and compassion.